Information providing apparatus, information providing method, and communication system

ABSTRACT

An information providing apparatus includes: a map information storage unit which maintains map information with which at least one of position information, address information, and names of buildings or shops is associated; a communication parameter obtaining unit which obtains communication parameters associated with the position information; an image information creating unit which creates image information in which the communication parameters associated with the position information are described on the map information; and a display unit which displays the image information created by the image information creating unit.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No.13/292,526 filed on Nov. 9, 2011, which claims priority from JapanesePatent Application 2010-256299 filed in the Japan Patent Office on Nov.16, 2010. Each of the above referenced applications is herebyincorporated by reference in its entirety.

BACKGROUND

The present disclosure relates to an information providing apparatus, aninformation providing method, and a communication system which providescommunication parameters in relation to wireless communication by awireless communication device such as a mobile phone, a smart phone, orthe like for wireless communication via a base station, and particularlyto an information providing apparatus, an information providing method,and a communication system which provides communication parameters suchas traffic conditions and the like of each base station for a wirelesscommunication device using one or more wireless communication services.

A mobile phone service based on a 3G scheme called third generation hasbeen started in Japan since 2002. At first, the main application of thisservice was for low-capacity packets for audio, mails, and the like.Thereafter, introduction of HSDPA (High Speed Downlink Access) and thelike which enhance the packet communication speed in the downlinkdirection from a base station to a terminal has promoted the downloadingof packets with larger sizes such as downloading of music files, usage(viewing) of video-sharing services such as YouTube (registeredtrademark), and the like.

In addition, expansion on the wireless network side has also been madewith the increase in the downloaded packet capacity, an HSPA+ servicewhich realizes 21 Mbps at a maximum using the 3GPP system and a MobileWiMAX service which realizes 40 Mbps at a maximum using the IEEE systemhave also been started. Furthermore, start of an LTE (Long TermEvolution) service which uses OFDMA (Orthogonal Frequency DivisionMultiple Access) for the downlink in the same manner as in Mobile WiMAX(Worldwide Interoperability for Microwave Access) and a 4G(LTE-Advanced) service have also been scheduled for the second half of2010 and around 2015, respectively. It has been expected that 1 Gbps ata maximum in a semifixed state and 100 Mbps at a maximum even in amobile environment may be realized due to the start of such services.

In addition, a high-functionality wireless communication terminal calleda “smart phone” mainly for packet communication has further beendistributed in tandem with changes such as the increase in use of thedownload of high-capacity data. In addition, position information hasbecome important information in order for communication businessoperators and service providers using the Internet to provide moreuser-oriented services to users in the mobile environment. In suchsituations, GPS (Global Positioning System) receivers which detectposition information are mounted on most smart phones. For example, awireless communication system which provides information of an estimatedposition with high precision from a base station to a mobile terminalwhich does not catch a GPS signal has been suggested (see JapaneseUnexamined Patent Application Publication No. 2008-298484, for example).The mobile terminal can operate an application or the like whichprovides information depending on the current position based on thehighly precise position information provided from the base station.

Here, a problem has been occurring in which traffic is locallyconcentrated and it becomes difficult to obtain sufficient rate due tothe concentration of users on a specific base station to downloadhigh-capacity packets. It is considered that there is stationary anddynamic local congestion in the base station. It is possible toalleviate stationary local congestion in theory by densely positioningbase stations, which is costly. On the other hand, in fact, it isdifficult to predict dynamic local congestion, and the dynamic localcongestion is managed by providing connection restrictions on thecommunication business operator side in extreme cases. Therefore, userscan know such traffic conditions only through the feeling after theattempt at communication when the communication rate falls sharply, orwhen a connection is not available at all, for example.

Without checking the traffic conditions of the base station before usersstart wireless communication via the base station, it is difficult toalleviate the concentration of traffic, and users feel unconformablesince connection is not available.

It can be considered that a method will be introduced hereafter in whicha connection is not fixed only to one communication business operatorbut connection with a plurality of communication business operators canalso be chosen by managing a SIM (Subscriber Identity Module) of amobile wireless communication terminal device. Alternatively, the startof various wireless communication services for providing highcommunication rates has been scheduled, and it is considered that asystem for effectively utilizing wireless resources becomes importantunder such a heterogeneous wireless environment. According to a wirelesscommunication device, it is possible to select which wirelesscommunication service is to be used, based on the maximum communicationrate of each wireless communication service or the intensity of receivedsignals.

When traffic is concentrated on a wireless communication service withhigh maximum communication rate, however, a case is assumed in which theeffective communication rate (actual communication rate) of the wirelesscommunication service is lowered while the effective communication rateof another wireless communication service becomes higher. Ultimately, itis considered to be difficult to equalize traffic by choosing connectionwithout users being able to check the traffic conditions of eachcommunication business operator.

SUMMARY

It is desirable to provide an excellent information providing apparatus,an information providing method, and a communication system capable ofpreferably providing communication parameters in relation to wirelessconnection by a wireless communication device such as a mobile phone, asmart phone, or the like for wireless communication via a base station.

It is also desirable to provide an excellent information providingapparatus, an information providing method, and a communication systemcapable of providing communication parameters such as traffic conditionsof each base station for a wireless communication device using one ormore wireless communication services.

According to a first embodiment of the present disclosure, there isprovided an information providing apparatus including: a map informationstorage unit which maintains map information with which at least one ofposition information, address information, and names of buildings orshops is associated; a communication parameter obtaining unit whichobtains communication parameters associated with the positioninformation; an image information creating unit which creates imageinformation in which the communication parameters associated with theposition information are described on the map information; and a displayunit which displays the image information created by the imageinformation creating unit.

According to a second embodiment of the present disclosure, the positioninformation handled by the information providing apparatus according tothe first embodiment may be position information for a location where auser performs wireless communication. In addition, the communicationparameter obtaining unit may obtain communication parameters, whichincludes levels of congestion of base stations available for the user orcommunication rate obtained based on the levels of congestion, which arefixed or dynamically changing values.

According to a third embodiment of the present disclosure, theinformation providing apparatus according to the first embodiment mayfurther include a transmitting unit which transmits the imageinformation created by the image information creating unit to a displayapparatus outside the information providing apparatus.

According to a fourth embodiment of the present disclosure, theinformation providing apparatus according to the first embodiment mayfurther include a communication unit which connects to a predeterminednetwork, wherein the image information created by the image informationcreating unit may be provided via the network.

According to a fifth embodiment of the present disclosure, the imageinformation creating unit may also describe information relating to abusiness operator, who manages or operates a base station as a candidatewireless connection destination for the user, on the map information inthe information providing apparatus according to the first embodiment.

According to a sixth embodiment of the present disclosure, the imageinformation creating unit may add a link to download informationrelating to the business operator, who manages or operates the basestation as a candidate wireless connection destination for the user, tothe map information in the information providing apparatus according tothe fifth embodiment.

According to a seventh embodiment of the present disclosure, there isprovided a communication system including: an information providingserver which includes a map information storage unit which maintains mapinformation with which at least one of position information, addressinformation, and names of buildings or shops is associated, acommunication parameter obtaining unit which obtains communicationparameters associated with the position information, an imageinformation creating unit which creates image information in which thecommunication parameters associated with the position information aredescribed on the map information, and a communication unit transmits theimage information created by the image information creating unit via thenetwork; and one or more wireless communication terminal devices, eachof which includes a receiving unit which receives the image informationfrom the information providing server, a display unit which displays thereceived image information, and a wireless communication unit whichconnects to a base station in a wireless manner.

However, the “system” described herein is a logical group of a pluralityof apparatuses (or functional modules which realize specific functions)regardless of whether each apparatus or functional module is in a singlecase.

According to an eighth embodiment of the present disclosure, each of thewireless communication terminal devices may further include acommunication parameter detection unit which detects communicationparameters and associates the communication parameters with informationrelating to positions and information relating to time and atransmitting unit which transmits the communication parameters to theinformation providing server in the communication system according tothe seventh embodiment. In addition, the information providing servermay further include a communication parameter collecting unit whichcollects communication parameters received from the plurality ofwireless communication terminal devices and an equalizing unit whichequalizes the communication parameters in units of the informationrelating to time and the information relating to positions, and imageinformation in which the equalized communication parameters aredescribed on the map information may be created and provided to thewireless communication terminal devices.

According to a ninth embodiment of the present disclosure, when thewireless communication unit of the wireless communication terminaldevice is compatible with code division multiple access, thecommunication parameter detecting unit may detect as communicationparameters, receiving levels of pilot signals obtained by performingcorrelation detection on scramble codes allotted to a plurality of basestations, numerical values calculated based on the pilot signalsreceived from the plurality of base stations, information relating totraffic conditions of each base station, or communication rate, in thecommunication system according to the eighth embodiment.

According to a tenth embodiment of the present disclosure, when thewireless communication unit of the wireless communication terminaldevice is compatible with orthogonal frequency division multiple access,the communication parameter detection unit may detect as communicationparameters, information relating to the ratio of the number ofsub-carriers allotted to a user with respect to the total number ofsub-carriers for each frame, which is included in the signals receivedfrom a plurality of base stations, information relating to trafficconditions of each base station, or an estimated value of thecommunication rate based on information relating to the number ofsub-carriers allotted to a user with respect to the total number ofsub-carriers for each frame, in the communication system according tothe eighth embodiment.

According to an eleventh embodiment of the present disclosure, thewireless communication terminal device may further include acommunication business operator selecting unit which displays charactersor graphics indicating a plurality of communication business operatorsor wireless schemes on a screen of the display unit and selects acharacter or a graphic indicating a desired communication businessoperator or a wireless scheme from among the characters or graphicsdisplayed on the screen, in the communication system according to theseventh embodiment. In such a case, the wireless communication unit mayperform setting to the wireless scheme corresponding to the character ora graphic indicating the communication business operator or the wirelessscheme selected by the communication business operator selecting unit.In addition, the display unit may apply a visual effect, which isdifferent from that for the characters or the graphics indicating theother communication business operators or the other wireless schemes, tothe character or the graphic indicating the communication businessoperator or the wireless scheme selected by the communication businessselecting unit.

According to a twelfth embodiment of the present disclosure, the displayunit of the wireless communication terminal device may be divided into aplurality of display regions, and image information in which thecommunication parameters received from the information providing serveror the communication parameters may be displayed on one of the divideddisplay regions, in the communication system according to the seventhembodiment.

According to a thirteenth embodiment of the present disclosure, theinformation providing server may further include an information sizecontrol unit which controls information size when the image informationcreated by the image information creating unit is transmitted from thecommunication unit, in the communication system according to the seventhembodiment.

According to a fourteenth embodiment of the present disclosure, theinformation size control unit may control the information size based onthe communication parameters corresponding to the current position ofthe wireless communication terminal device, in the communication systemaccording to the thirteenth embodiment.

According to a fifteenth embodiment of the present disclosure, theinformation providing server may further include an information creatingunit which creates additional information to be sent while being addedto the image information created by the image information creating unit,in the communication system according to the thirteenth embodiment. Inaddition, the information creating unit may create additionalinformation in accordance with the information size determined by theinformation size control unit.

According to a sixteenth embodiment of the present disclosure, thedisplay unit of the wireless communication terminal device may bedivided into a plurality of display regions, the image information inwhich communication parameters are described and the additionalinformation may be received from the information providing server, theimage information in which the communication parameters are describedmay be displayed on one of the divided display regions, and theadditional information may be displayed on another one of the divideddisplay regions, in the communication system according to the fifteenthembodiment.

According to a seventeenth embodiment of the present disclosure, thereis provided an information providing method including: maintaining mapinformation with which at least one of position information, addressinformation, and names of buildings or shops is associated; obtainingcommunication parameters associated with the position information;creating image information in which the communication parametersassociated with the position information are described on the mapinformation; and displaying the image information created by an imageinformation creating unit.

According to an eighteenth embodiment of the present disclosure, thereis provided a computer program recorded in a computer-readable format,the computer program causing a computer to function as: a mapinformation storage unit which maintains map information with which atleast one of position information, address information, and names ofbuildings or shops is associated; a communication parameter obtainingunit which obtains communication parameters associated with the positioninformation; an image information creating unit which creates imageinformation in which the communication parameters associated with theposition information are described on the map information; and a displayunit which displays the image information created by the imageinformation creating unit.

The computer program according to the eighteenth embodiment is acomputer-readable computer program which realizes predeterminedprocessing on a computer. In other words, it is possible to exhibitcooperative actions on the computer and obtain the same effects as thoseof the information providing apparatus according to the first embodimentby installing the computer program according to the eighteenthembodiment on the computer.

According to the present disclosure, it is possible to provide anexcellent information providing apparatus, an information providingmethod, and a communication system capable of providing communicationparameters such as traffic conditions of each base station for awireless communication device using one or more wireless communicationservices.

According to the first to fourth, seventeenth, and eighteenthembodiments of the present disclosure, the user can visually recognizethe traffic information before the attempt at wireless communication andnot through the sensations after the attempt at wireless communicationwith their own mobile terminal.

According to the third, fourth, and seventh embodiments of the presentdisclosure, it is possible to provide information in relation to trafficto a remote user.

According to the fifth and sixth embodiments of the present disclosure,the user can easily obtain information relating to a business operatorwho manages or operates a base station as a wireless connectiondestination for a wireless communication terminal device.

According to the eighth to tenth embodiments of the present disclosure,using the information providing server, it is possible to collect thecommunication parameters detected by a plurality of wirelesscommunication terminal devices, and the information providing server canprovide information relating to more reliable traffic to each wirelesscommunication terminal device by equalizing such communicationparameters. In addition, according to the ninth and tenth embodiments ofthe present disclosure, it is possible to detect communicationparameters for the network compatible with code division multiple accessor orthogonal frequency division multiple access and allow a user tovisually recognize the communication parameter before the attempt atwireless connection.

According to the eleventh embodiment of the present disclosure, the usercan ascertain the traffic conditions based on the information providedfrom the information providing server and select a desired wirelessconnection destination by operating the communication business operatorselecting unit.

According to the twelfth embodiment of the present disclosure, it ispossible to provide a region, which constantly displays thecommunication parameters, among the display regions in the display unitof the wireless communication terminal device.

According to the thirteenth to sixteenth embodiments of the presentdisclosure, the information providing server can minimize the load onthe traffic and distribute the additional information since it ispossible to adjust the information to have a size in accordance with thetraffic conditions at a spot where the wireless communication terminaldevice is present when the additional information such as anadvertisement or the like is distributed along with the informationrelating to the traffic.

As described above, according to the present disclosure, a communicationterminal such as a mobile phone, a smart phone, or the like owned by auser is provided with a unit by which a user can visually check atraffic concentration condition. Accordingly, the user can visuallycheck the traffic conditions of a base station before starting wirelesscommunication via the base station, and it is possible to alleviatetraffic concentration. As a result, the user does not feel uncomfortabledue to the connection being unavailable.

According to the present disclosure, if a method is introduced in whichconnections to a plurality of communication business operators can bechosen by managing the SIM of a mobile wireless communication terminaldevice, or in a heterogeneous wireless environment in which a pluralityof wireless communication services are available, the user can connectto a communication business operator with less traffic after visuallychecking the traffic conditions of each communication business operator.In addition, if each user selects a communication business operator as aconnection destination in accordance with the traffic conditions, thetraffic is equalized as a result. Accordingly, communication businessoperators can expect an advantage of reducing unnecessary costs ofincreasing the number of base stations, and the users can enjoycommunication services at low costs as a synergistic effect.

Other purposes, features, advantages of the present disclosure will beclarified in detailed description based on the embodiment of thisdisclosure which will be described later and accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a diagram schematically showing a configuration example of acommunication system to which the present disclosure is applied;

FIG. 2 is a diagram schematically showing a configuration example of aninformation providing apparatus which provides information for visuallychecking communication parameters to a user;

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing an example of image information in whichcommunication parameters (levels of congestion of base stations) aredescribed on map information;

FIG. 4 is a diagram showing another example of image information inwhich communication parameters (communication rate of base stations) aredescribed on map information;

FIG. 5 is a diagram showing a configuration example of an informationproviding apparatus which provides information for visually checkingcommunication parameters to a user;

FIG. 6 is a diagram showing a configuration example of a communicationsystem including an information providing apparatus which providesinformation for visually checking communication parameters to a user anda wireless communication terminal device using provided information;

FIG. 7 is a diagram showing another configuration example of acommunication system including an information providing apparatus whichprovides information for visually checking communication parameters to auser and a wireless communication terminal device using providedinformation;

FIG. 8 is a diagram showing another configuration example of acommunication system including an information providing apparatus whichprovides information for visually checking communication parameters to auser and a wireless communication terminal device using providedinformation;

FIG. 9 is a diagram showing still another configuration example of acommunication system including an information providing apparatus whichprovides information for visually checking communication parameters to auser and a wireless communication terminal device using providedinformation; and

FIG. 10 is a diagram showing a modified example of a communicationsystem shown in FIG. 9.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS

Hereinafter, detailed description will be made of an embodiment of thisdisclosure with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 schematically shows a configuration example of a communicationsystem to which the present disclosure is applied. According to acommunication system 100 in the drawing, a method is introduced in whichconnection to a plurality of communication business operators can alsobe chosen by managing a SIM of a mobile wireless communication terminaldevice, and a heterogeneous wireless environment in which a plurality ofwireless communication services are available is assumed.

The communication system 100 in the drawing includes a mobile terminal120, a plurality of first base stations 130A and 130B, a first corenetwork 140, a plurality of second base stations 150A and 150B, and asecond core network 160.

The first core network 140 is the network of a communication businessoperator which provides a first wireless communication service (a 3Gservice, for example), and a plurality of first base stations 130 areconnected thereto. The first core network 140 includes MME (MobileManagement Entity) for setting and releasing of sessions for datacommunication, control of handover, and the like, and a gateway whichcontrols the routing, transfer, and the like of user data, for example.

The second core network 160 is the network of a communication businessoperator which provides a second wireless communication service (LTE,WiMAX, 4G, or the like), and a plurality of second base stations 150 areconnected thereto. The second core network 160 includes MME, a gateway,and the like in the same manner as the first core network 140.

The base stations such as the first base station 130, the second basestation 150, and the like control communication by a mobile terminal120. For example, the base station relays data received from the mobileterminal 120 to a destination and transmits the data to the mobileterminal 120 when the data directed to the mobile terminal 120 isreceived. In addition, the base station can communicate with the mobileterminal 120 by applying a wireless multiple access scheme such asorthogonal frequency-division multiple access (OFDMA), time-divisionmultiple access (TDMA), code division multiple access (CDMA)) or thelike.

The mobile terminal 120 can communicate various data items with anotherapparatus via the first base station 130 or the second base station 150.The various data items include music data such as music, lecture, radioprograms, and the like, video data such as movies, television programs,video programs, photographs, documents, web pages, paintings, graphiccharts, and the like, games, software, and the like.

Although the mobile terminal 120 is shown in FIG. 1 as an example of thewireless communication device, the wireless communication device is notlimited to such an example. For example, the wireless communicationdevice may be an information processing apparatus such as a PC (PersonalComputer), a household use video processing apparatus (a DVD recorder, avideocassette recorder, or the like), a PDA (Personal DigitalAssistant), a household use game machine, a home electrical appliance,or the like. In addition, the wireless communication device may be aninformation processing apparatus such as a mobile phone, a PHS (PersonalHandyphone System), a mobile music reproducing apparatus, a mobile videoprocessing apparatus, a mobile game machine, or the like.

In addition, as the first base station 130 and the second base station150, it is possible to assume various base stations such as a macrocellbase station, a relay node which relays communication between themacrocell base station and the mobile terminal 120, a femtocell as ahousehold use compact base station, and the like.

The present disclosure provides a unit by which communication parameterssuch as traffic conditions and the like of each communication businessoperator are visually checked to a user who moves with a wirelesscommunication device such as a mobile phone or the like, in acommunication system as shown in FIG. 1.

FIG. 2 schematically shows a configuration example of an informationproviding apparatus 200 which provides information for visually checkingcommunication parameters to a user. Hereinafter, description will bemade of each component. The information providing apparatus 200 in thedrawing has a function of displaying communication parameters on a mapincluding the current position of the user (or the wirelesscommunication device owned by the user).

As shown in the drawing, the information providing apparatus 200includes a map information storage unit 210, a communication parameterobtaining unit 211, a position information associating unit 212, animage information creating unit 213, and a display unit 214.

The map information 206 stored in the map information storage unit 210includes position information 201, address information 202, buildingname information, and shop name information 204, for example. Thebuilding name information 203 from among such information 201 to 204includes names recorded on a general map such as names of rail stations,bus stops of route buses, historic sites, scenic locations, parks,rivers and streams, harbors, and the like, for example.

The position information described herein corresponds to the currentposition of a location requested to be displayed on the map (the user asan information destination or the wireless communication device owned bythe user). Although the map information creating unit 205 creates themap information 206 based on the position information 201, the addressinformation 202, the building name information 203, and the shop nameinformation 204, the scope of the present disclosure is not limited to aspecific method of creating map information. The map informationcreating unit 205 is not necessarily mounted in the informationproviding apparatus 200. For example, the map information creating unit205 may be installed outside the information providing apparatus 200such as a map information creating server constructed on the network andcreate the map information 206 for displaying corresponding places onthe map in response to the request from the information providingapparatus 200 or the like. When the map information 206 created by themap information creating unit 205 is obtained, the information providingapparatus 200 stores the map information 206 in the map informationstorage unit 210.

The communication parameter obtaining unit 211 obtains parameters inrelation to communication associated with the position information 201.The parameters in relation to communication described herein areinformation relating to levels of congestion of a plurality of publicwireless base stations (or base stations of each communication businessoperator available for users) and communication rate (effectivecommunication rate) calculated from the levels of congestion. However,the parameters in relation to communication are not limited to fixedvalues but may include parameters which dynamically change inassociation with time information. Hereinafter, the parameters inrelation to communication are simply referred to as “communicationparameters”. In addition, a method of obtaining the communicationparameters by the communication parameter obtaining unit 211 isarbitrary. For example, the core network (as described above) includingthe base stations can easily ascertain information relating to thecommunication parameters, and it is possible to configure thecommunication parameter obtaining unit 211 to obtain the communicationparameters from an external apparatus such as the core network or thelike. Alternatively, it is also possible to configure the communicationparameter obtaining unit 211 to measure or estimate information relatingto the levels of congestion and communication rate of base stations andobtain communication parameters based on the result.

The position information associating unit 212 associates the mapinformation stored on the map information storing unit 210 and thecommunication parameters obtained by the communication parameterobtaining unit 211 with the position information.

The image information creating unit 213 creates the image information inwhich communication parameters associated with the position informationare described on the map information 206. Here, as a method ofdescribing the communication parameters on the map information 206, itis possible to exemplify general methods capable of visually specifyingchanges such as numerical values, graphs, color changes, and the like.The image information creating unit 213 performs processing ofdisplaying predetermined information on a position on the mapinformation corresponding to the position information of GPS. And thedetails of such processing have been disclosed in Japanese UnexaminedPatent Application Publication No. 2009-193083 which was alreadytransferred to the present applicant.

The image information created by the image information creating unit 213is transferred to the display unit 214 and displayed on a screen.

Here, the configuration may be made such that the position informationassociating unit 212 transmits only the change in the communicationparameters to the image information creating unit 213, and the imageinformation creating unit 213 creates the image information based on theinformation corresponding to the change, if there is little change inthe map (the movement of the position of the target wirelesscommunication device is small), and only the communication parametersdynamically change. In addition, it is also possible to cause thedisplay unit 214 to display the image information based on theinformation corresponding to the change in the communication parameters.

In addition, the image information creating unit 213 can also createtext information or coded information as well as the image informationin which the communication parameters are described on the mapinformation. In such a case, the display unit 214 may be provided with afunction of separating the text information or the coded informationfrom the image information.

FIG. 3 shows an example of image information, which is created by theimage information creating unit 213, in which communication parametersare described on the map information. The image information in thedrawing is also a display example of image information by the displayunit 214. In the example of the drawing, a numerical value indicatingthe level of congestion of each base station as one of the communicationparameters for each communication business operator is displayed on themap.

In addition, FIG. 4 shows another example of image information, which iscreated by the image information creating unit 213, in which thecommunication parameters are described on the map information. The imageinformation in the drawing is a display example of the image informationby the display unit 214 (in the same manner as above). In the example ofthe drawing, an estimated value of communication rate (effectivecommunication rate) of each base station as one of the communicationparameters of each communication business operator is displayed on themap.

The user can visually check the traffic conditions of the base stationas a connection destination by viewing the screen information shown inFIGS. 3 and 4 on the display screen of the display unit 214. Forexample, when the user visually checks traffic congestion of the basestation, the user does not feel uncomfortable by avoiding connection tothe base station or selecting a base station of a communication businessoperator with higher effective communication rate.

In addition, If a method is introduced in which connections to aplurality of communication business operators can be chosen by managinga SIM of a mobile wireless communication terminal device, or in aheterogeneous wireless environment in which a plurality of wirelesscommunication services are available, the user can connect to acommunication business operator with less traffic after visuallychecking the traffic conditions of each communication business operator,according to the present disclosure. In addition, if each user selects acommunication business operator as a connection destination inaccordance with the traffic condition, the traffic is equalized as aresult.

Accordingly, communication business operators can expect an advantage ofreducing unnecessary costs for increasing the number of base stations,and the users can enjoy communication services at low costs as asynergistic effect.

Another embodiment can also be considered in which the image informationin which communication parameters are described on the map informationis created not by a communication apparatus 1, that is, thecommunication terminal owned by the user but by an information providingapparatus of a server or the like and provided to a remote displayapparatus (the communication apparatus 1 owned by the user) via thenetwork.

FIG. 5 shows a configuration example of an information providingapparatus 500 which provides information for visually checkingcommunication parameters to a user. Unlike FIG. 2, the informationproviding apparatus 500 is configured to transmit image information inwhich communication parameters are described on the map information to aremote display apparatus 514.

The information providing apparatus 500 in the drawing includes a mapinformation storage unit 510 storing map information 506, acommunication parameter obtaining unit 511, a position informationassociating unit 512, an image information creating unit 513, and atransmitting unit 515.

The map information 506 stored in the map information storage unit 510includes position information, address information, building nameinformation, shop name information, for example. Among them, thebuilding name information includes names recorded on a general map suchas names of rail stations, bus stops of route buses, historic sites,scenic locations, parks, rivers and streams, harbors, and the like, forexample (as described above). The position information described hereincorresponds to the current position of a location for which map displayis requested (a user as an information providing target (or a wirelesscommunication device owned by the user), for example).

The communication parameter obtaining unit 511 obtains communicationparameters associated with the position information. The communicationparameters described herein are information relating to levels ofcongestion of a plurality of public wireless base stations (or basestations of each communication business operator available for the user)and communication rate calculated based on the levels of congestion (asdescribed above). However, the communication parameters are not limitedto fixed values but may include parameters which dynamically vary inassociation with the time information.

The position information associating unit 512 associates the mapinformation 506 stored in the map information storage unit 510 and thecommunication parameters obtained by the communication parameterobtaining unit 511 with the position information (as described above).

The image information creating unit 513 creates image information inwhich the communication parameters associated with the positioninformation are described on the map information 506. The imageinformation created by the image information creating unit 513 is thesame as those shown in FIGS. 3 and 4.

The transmitting unit 515 is provided with a wired or wirelesscommunication unit, and the information providing apparatus 500 isconnected to the display apparatus 514 via the transmitting unit 515.The display apparatus 514 is a personal computer connected via theInternet, for example. Even if the display apparatus 514 isgeographically far from the installation position of the informationproviding apparatus 4, it is possible to transfer the image informationcreated by the image information creating unit 513 from the transmittingunit 515 and display the image information on the screen of the displayapparatus 514.

The display apparatus 514 may be digital signage installed in carriagesof public transportation, vehicles, commercial vehicles, walls ofbuildings, station yards, public facilities, and the like. Theinformation providing apparatus 500 can display image information fordisplaying communication parameters on the map via a wired or wirelesscommunication tool.

The user can select a communication business operator as a connectiondestination by visually checking the traffic conditions of eachcommunication business operator from the display screen of the displayapparatus 514 when the user starts the wireless connection of the mobileterminal of its own. As a result, the traffic is equalized, andtherefore, the communication business operators can expect an advantageof reducing unnecessary costs for increasing the number of basestations, and the users can enjoy communication services at low costs asa synergistic effect.

FIG. 6 shows a configuration example of a communication system includingan information providing apparatus 600 which provides information forvisually checking communication parameters to a user and a wirelesscommunication terminal device 620 using the provided information.

The information providing apparatus 600 in the drawing includes a mapinformation storage unit 610 storing the map information 606, acommunication parameter obtaining unit 611, a position informationassociating unit 612, an image information creating unit 613, and acommunication unit 615.

On the other hand the wireless communication terminal device 620includes a receiving unit 621, a display unit 630, and a wirelesscommunication unit 640. The wireless communication terminal device 620is a communication terminal such as a mobile phone, a smart phone, orthe like, for example, owned by the user. Although the wirelesscommunication terminal device 620 includes functional blocks other thanthose shown in the drawing, the description thereof will be omittedhere.

The map information 606 stored in the map information storage unit 610includes position information, address information, building nameinformation, and shop name information, for example. Among them, thebuilding name information includes names recorded on a general map suchas names of rail stations, bus stops of route buses, historic sites,scenic locations, parks, rivers and streams, harbors, and the like, forexample (as described above). The position information described hereincorresponds to the current position of a location requested to bedisplayed on the map (the user as an information destination or thewireless communication device owned by the user).

The communication parameter obtaining unit 611 obtains communicationparameters associated with the position information. The communicationparameters described herein is information relating to levels ofcongestion of a plurality of public wireless base stations (or basestations of each communication business operator available for the user)and communication rate calculated based on the levels of congestion (asdescribed above). However, the communication parameters are not limitedto fixed values but may include parameters which dynamically vary inassociation with the time information.

The position information associating unit 612 associates the mapinformation 606 stored in the map information storage unit 610 and thecommunication parameters obtained by the communication parameterobtaining unit 611 with the position information (as described above).

The image information creating unit 613 creates image information inwhich the communication parameters associated with the positioninformation are described on the map information 606. The imageinformation created by the image information creating unit 613 is thesame as those shown in FIGS. 3 and 4.

Here, when the communication rate of all base stations of communicationbusiness operators available from the current position of the wirelesscommunication terminal device 620 as the providing target of the imageinformation is less than a predetermined threshold value, the imageinformation creating unit 613 may further describe image informationindicating the names and positions of communication business operatorsof the base stations (candidate base stations), which are providingrelatively high communication rate around the position, on the mapinformation 606. In addition, when such candidate base stations areaccess points or femtocells managed or operated by a shop, the imageinformation creating unit 613 may also describe the name of the shop onthe map information 606. Moreover, the image information creating unit613 may add a necessary link, with which it is possible to downloadinformation relating such a shop through a simple operation, to the mapinformation.

The communication unit 615 is provided with a communication unit whichconnects to a predetermined network for communication. The informationproviding apparatus 600 can communicate with the wireless communicationterminal device 620 via the network from the communication unit 615.When the receiving unit 621 obtains image information from theinformation providing apparatus 600, the wireless communication terminaldevice 620 can display the information on the screen of the display unit630.

If a method is introduced in which connections to a plurality ofcommunication business operators can be chosen by managing a SIM of amobile wireless communication terminal device, or in a heterogeneouswireless environment in which a plurality of wireless communicationservices are available, the user of the wireless communication terminaldevice 620 can select a communication business operator as a connectiondestination of the wireless communication unit 640 by visually checkingthe traffic conditions of each communication business operator from themap information displayed on the screen of the display apparatus 630(see FIGS. 3 and 4). Since the traffic is equalized as a result, thecommunication business operators can expect an advantage of reducingunnecessary costs for increasing the number of base stations. Inaddition, the users can enjoy communication services at low costs as asynergistic effect.

It is also possible to constantly display image information in which thecommunication parameters are described on the map when an arbitraryapplication is activated on the wireless communication terminal device620, and it is also possible dynamically change the image information.When the shop information is also recorded in the map information, and alink to the shop information is added, the user can download the shopinformation with a simple operation via the display screen.

FIG. 7 shows another configuration example of a communication systemincluding an information providing apparatus 700 which providesinformation for visually checking the communication parameters to theuser and a wireless communication terminal device 720 using the providedinformation. The communication system is different from that shown inFIG. 6 mainly in that the wireless communication terminal device 720 isprovided with a communication parameter detection unit 723 and that theinformation providing apparatus 700 collects the communication parameterfrom the wireless communication terminal device 720.

The wireless communication terminal device 720 is a communicationterminal such as a mobile phone, a smart phone, or the like owned by theuser and includes a communication parameter detection unit 723, atransmitting unit 724, and a wireless communication unit 740 in additionto a receiving unit 721 and a display unit 730. Although the wirelesscommunication terminal device 720 includes functional blocks other thanthose in the drawing, the description thereof will be omitted here.

The communication parameters detected by the communication parameterdetection unit 722 are associated at least with the information relatingto positions and the information relating to time. For example, inJapanese Patent Application No. 2010-142384 which was alreadytransferred to the present applicant, a method in which a wirelesscommunication device obtains communication parameters has beendisclosed. Hereinafter, the communication parameters detected by thecommunication parameter detection unit 722 will be exemplified.

(1) receiving levels of pilot signals obtained by performing correlationdetection on scramble codes allotted to one or a plurality of basestations compatible with code division multiple access, or numericalvalues or communication rate calculated based on the pilot signalreceived from a plurality of base stations.

(2) the information relating to the ratio of the number of sub-carriersallotted to the user with respect to the total number of sub-carriersfor each frame, which is included in the signals received from one or aplurality of base stations compatible with orthogonal frequency divisionmultiple access, information relating to the traffic conditions of eachbase station, or estimated values of communication rate calculated basedon information relating to the ratio of the number of sub-carriersallotted to the user with respect to the total number of sub-carriersfor each frame.

Then, the wireless communication terminal device 720 associates thecommunication parameters detected by the communication parameterdetection unit 722 with the information relating to positions and theinformation relating to the time, and the communication parameters arethen transmitted to the information providing apparatus 700 as a servervia the transmitting unit 723.

The information providing apparatus 700 further includes a communicationparameter collecting unit 716 and an equalizing unit 717 as well as themap information storage unit 710, the communication parameter obtainingunit 711, a position information associating unit 712, an imageinformation creating unit 713, and a communication unit 715.

The information providing apparatus 700 causes a receiving unit 715-2 inthe communication unit 715 to receive the communication parameters sentfrom one or a plurality of wireless communication terminal devices 720and causes a communication parameter collecting unit 716 to collect thecommunication parameters.

The equalizing unit 717 equalizes the communication parameters collectedby the communication parameter collecting unit 716 for each arbitraryresolution of the information relating to positions. That is, theequalizing unit 717 equalizes a plurality of communication parameterswhich can be approximated with the communication parameters detected ata geographically adjacent position over the parameters thereof at eachtime point which can be approximated with a certain time point. Theequalizing unit 717 can also perform computations of calculatingdispersion and excluding samples with extremely wide dispersion withsuch equalizing. The equalized value of the communication parametersassociated with the position information with a limited resolution,which is obtained by the equalizing unit 717, can be referred to fromthe communication parameter obtaining unit 711.

The position information associating unit 712 associates the mapinformation 706 stored in the map information storage unit 710 and theequalized value of communication parameters referred to from thecommunication parameter obtaining unit 711 with the positioninformation. The image information creating unit 713 creates the imageinformation in which the equalized value of the communication parametersassociated with the position information is described on the mapinformation. The image information created by the image informationcreating unit 713 is the same as those shown in FIGS. 3 and 4. Then, theinformation providing apparatus 700 transmits the image informationcreated by the image information creating unit 713 to the wirelesscommunication terminal device 720 via the transmitting unit 715-1 in thecommunication unit 715.

When the receiving unit 721 receives the image information created bythe image information creating unit 713 from the information providingapparatus 700, the wireless communication terminal device 720 candisplay the image information on the screen of the display unit 730. Ifa method is introduced in which connections to a plurality ofcommunication business operators can be chosen by managing a SIM of amobile wireless communication terminal device, or in a heterogeneouswireless environment in which a plurality of wireless communicationservices are available, the user of the wireless communication terminaldevice 720 can select a communication business operator as a connectiondestination by visually checking the traffic conditions of eachcommunication business operator from the map information displayed onthe screen of the display unit 730 (see FIGS. 3 and 4). Since thetraffic is equalized as a result, the communication business operatorscan expect an advantage of reducing unnecessary costs for increasing thenumber of base stations. In addition, the users can enjoy communicationservices at low costs as a synergistic effect.

FIG. 8 shows another configuration example of a communication systemincluding an information providing apparatus 800 which providesinformation for visually checking the communication parameter to theuser and a wireless communication terminal device 820 using the providedinformation. The communication system is different from that shown inFIG. 6 mainly in that a different character or an icon corresponding toa desired communication business operator or a character or an iconcorresponding to a wireless scheme such as a carrier frequency or thelike is selected from among graphics such as characters, icons, and thelike indicating communication business operators or graphics such ascharacters or an icon corresponding to wireless schemes such as acarrier frequencies or the like displayed on the screen of the displayunit 830, to each of which different visual effects are given. The usercan execute a telephone call or packet communication after setting theselected wireless scheme. Furthermore, the map information displayed onthe screen of the display unit 830 (see FIG. 3 or 4) or coded mapinformation can automatically select a communication business operatoras a connection destination of the wireless communication unit 840 inaccordance with the user preference. In addition, the user can also makethe setting relating to the user preference in order to automaticallyperform the selection.

The information providing apparatus 800 in the drawing includes a mapinformation storage unit 810 storing the map information 806, acommunication parameter obtaining unit 811, a position informationassociating unit 812, an image information creating unit 813, and acommunication unit 815.

On the other hand, the wireless communication terminal device 820includes a receiving unit 821, a display unit 830, a communicationbusiness operator selecting unit 825, a wireless scheme setting unit826, and a wireless communication unit 840. The wireless communicationterminal device 820 is a communication terminal such as a mobile phone,a smart phone, or the like owned by a user. Although the wirelesscommunication terminal device 820 includes functional blocks other thanthose shown in the drawing, the description thereof will be omittedhere.

The map information 806 stored in the map information storage unit 810includes position information, address information, building nameinformation, shop name information, for example. Among them, thebuilding name information includes names recorded on a general map suchas names of rail stations, bus stops of route buses, historic sites,scenic locations, parks, rivers and streams, harbors, and the like, forexample (as described above). The position information described hereincorresponds to the current position of a location for which map displayis requested (a user as an information providing target (or a wirelesscommunication device owned by the user), for example).

The communication parameter obtaining unit 811 obtains communicationparameters associated with the position information. The communicationparameters described herein are information relating to levels ofcongestion of a plurality of public wireless base stations (or basestations of each communication business operator available for the user)and communication rate calculated based on the levels of congestion (asdescribed above). The communication parameters may be a communicationparameter obtained by equalizing the collected communication parameterscollected from a plurality of wireless communication devices in units ofinformation relating to time and information relating to positions.However, the communication parameters are not limited to fixed valuesbut may include parameters which dynamically vary in association withthe time information.

The position information associating unit 812 associates the mapinformation stored in the map information storage unit 810 and thecommunication parameters obtained by the communication parameterobtaining unit 811 with the position information (as described above).

The image information creating unit 813 creates the image information inwhich the communication parameters associated with the positioninformation are described on the map information 806. The imageinformation created by the image information creating unit 813 is thesame as those shown in FIGS. 3 and 4.

The communication unit 815 is provided with a communication unit whichconnects to a predetermined network for communication. The informationproviding apparatus 800 can communicate with the wireless communicationterminal device 820 via the network from the communication unit 815.When the receiving unit 821 obtains the image information from theinformation providing apparatus 800, the wireless communication terminaldevice 820 displays the information on the screen of the display unit830. On the screen of the display unit 830, graphics such as characters,icons, and the like indicating the communication business operators andgraphics such as characters, icons, and the like corresponding to thewireless schemes such as carrier frequencies or the like are displayed.

The user of the wireless communication terminal device 820 can select acharacter or an icon corresponding to a desired communication businessoperator or a character or an icon corresponding to a wireless schemesuch as a carrier frequency or the like from among the graphics such ascharacters or icons indicating the communication business operators orthe graphics such as characters or icons corresponding to the wirelessschemes such as carrier frequencies, which are displayed on the screenof the display unit 830, by operating the communication businessoperator selecting unit 825.

In addition, the display unit 830 may be configured to apply a visualeffect to a graphic such as a character, an icon, or the like indicatingthe selected communication business operator or a graphic such as acharacter, an icon, or the like corresponding to the wireless schemesuch as a carrier frequency or the like, which is different from thatfor other graphics such as characters, icons, or the like indicatingother unselected communication business operator or other graphics suchas characters, icons, or the like corresponding to the wireless schemessuch as carrier frequencies or the like, in response to the result ofthe user selection via the communication business operator selectingunit 825. Here, the different visual effect is realized by changing thecolor of the character on the display unit 830, causing the character toblink, changing the background color of the character, or causing thebackground color of the character to blink, by a click operation or thelike by the user.

In addition, the output from the communication business operatorselecting unit 825 is transmitted to the wireless scheme setting unit826. The wireless scheme setting unit 826 performs on the wirelesscommunication unit 840 the setting to the wireless scheme correspondingto the graphic such as a character, an icon, or the like correspondingto one communication business operator, to which a visual effectdifferent from that for the other graphics such as characters, icons, orthe like corresponding to the other communication business operators orthe other graphics such as characters, icons, or the like correspondingto the wireless schemes such as carrier frequencies, which has not beenselected on the display unit 830, is applied. If telephone call orpacket communication is started in this state, the wirelesscommunication unit 840 executes telephone call or packet communicationvia the communication business operator or based on the schemecorresponding to the wireless scheme such as a carrier frequency, whichis selected by the communication business operator selecting unit 825.

If a method is introduced in which connections to a plurality ofcommunication business operators can be chosen by managing a SIM of amobile wireless communication terminal device, or in a heterogeneouswireless environment in which a plurality of wireless communicationservices are available, the user of the wireless communication terminaldevice 820 can select a communication business operator as a connectiondestination by visually checking the traffic conditions of eachcommunication business operator from the map information displayed onthe screen of the display unit 830 (see FIG. 3 or 4) and operating thecommunication business operator selecting unit 825. Since the traffic isequalized as a result, the communication business operators can expectan advantage of reducing unnecessary costs for increasing the number ofbase stations. In addition, the users can enjoy communication servicesat low costs as a synergistic effect.

A selecting method by the communication business operator selecting unit825 is not limited to a click operation on the display screen of thedisplay unit 830 by the user. For example, a method is also applicablein which a communication business operator or a wireless scheme isselected based on the setting file in which user preference is preset.Specifically, when the user performs setting such that communication atlow communication costs is to be selected with priority, a communicationbusiness operator providing communication at the lowest costs or awireless scheme at the lowest costs is automatically selected among theinformation displayed on the display unit 830. Alternatively, when theuser made setting such that communication at the highest communicationrate is to be selected with priority, a communication business operatorproviding communication at the highest communication rate or a wirelessscheme at the highest communication rate is automatically selected inthe information displayed on the display unit 830.

FIG. 9 shows still another configuration example of a communicationsystem including an information providing apparatus 900 which providesinformation for visually checking the communication parameters to a userand a wireless communication terminal device 920 using the providedinformation.

The information providing apparatus 900 includes a map informationstorage unit 910 storing the map information 906, a communicationparameter obtaining unit 911, a position information associating unit912, and an image information creating unit 913, a communication unit915, and functions as a server which provides image information to thewireless communication terminal device 920, for example.

On the other hand, the wireless communication terminal device 920 isprovided with a receiving unit 921 and a display unit 930. The wirelesscommunication terminal device 920 is a communication terminal such as amobile phone, a smart phone, or the like owned by a user. Thecommunication system is different from that shown in FIG. 6 mainly inthat the display unit 930 includes a plurality of display regionsincluding a first display region 930-1 and a second display region930-2.

The map information 906 stored in the map information storage unit 910includes position information, address information, building nameinformation, shop name information, for example. Among them, thebuilding name information includes names recorded on a general map suchas names of rail stations, bus stops of route buses, historic sites,scenic locations, parks, rivers and streams, harbors, and the like, forexample (as described above). The position information described hereincorresponds to the current position of a location for which map displayis requested (a user as an information providing target (or a wirelesscommunication device owned by the user), for example).

The communication parameter obtaining unit 911 obtains communicationparameters associated with the position information. The communicationparameters described herein are information relating to levels ofcongestion of a plurality of public wireless base stations andcommunication rate calculated based on the levels of congestion (asdescribed above). The communication parameters may be a communicationparameter obtained by equalizing the collected communication parameterscollected from a plurality of wireless communication devices in units ofinformation relating to time and information relating to positions.However, the communication parameters are not limited to fixed valuesbut may include parameters which dynamically vary in association withthe time information.

The position information associating unit 912 associates the mapinformation 906 stored in the map information storage unit 910 and thecommunication parameters obtained by the communication parameterobtaining unit 911 with the position information (as described above).

The image information creating unit 913 creates image information inwhich the communication parameters associated with the positioninformation are described on the map information. The communication unit915 is provided with a wireless communication tool, and the informationproviding apparatus 900 transmits the image information to the wirelesscommunication terminal device 920 via the communication unit 915. Thewireless communication terminal device 920 obtains the image informationvia the receiving unit 921. The obtained image information is sent tothe display unit 930 and displayed on the first display region 930-1which is one of a plurality of display regions. It is possible toconstantly use the first display region 930-1 as a region which displaysthe communication parameters.

If a method is introduced in which connections to a plurality ofcommunication business operators can be chosen by managing the SIM of amobile wireless communication terminal device, or in a heterogeneouswireless environment in which a plurality of wireless communicationservices are available, the user of the wireless communication terminaldevice 920 can select a communication business operator as a connectiondestination of the wireless communication unit 940 by visually checkingthe traffic conditions of each communication business operator from thecommunication parameters displayed on the first display region 930-1 ofthe display unit 930. Since the traffic is equalized as a result, thecommunication business operators can expect an advantage of reducingunnecessary costs for increasing the number of base stations. Inaddition, the users can enjoy communication services at low costs as asynergistic effect.

In addition, the image information creating unit 913 can transmit onlynumerical values of communication parameters without the mapinformation. In such a case, numerical values of the communicationparameters for one or a plurality of public wireless base stations aredisplayed on the first display region 930-1. As the methods ofdisplaying the numerical values, it is possible to display the numericalvalues in a graph form or in a digital format such as a meter, or thelike, or display the numerical values with icons which reminds the userof the levels of congestion or icons which reminds the user of thecommunication speed.

In addition, it is matter of course that the wireless communicationterminal device 920 is provided with a plurality of display units andone of them is caused to display the image information created by theimage information creating unit 913, as well as the method of dividingthe display region of the display unit 930 into a plurality of regions.

FIG. 10 shows a modified example of the communication system shown inFIG. 9. The communication system is different from that shown in FIG. 7mainly in that an information providing apparatus 1000 as a serverincludes a function of controlling the size of the image informationcreated by an image information creating unit 1013.

The information providing apparatus 1000 further includes an informationsize control unit 1018 and an information creating unit 1019 as well asa map information storage unit 1010 storing the map information 1006,and a communication parameter obtaining unit 1011, and a positioninformation associating unit 1012, and an image information creatingunit 1013, a communication unit 1015.

On the other hand, the wireless communication terminal device 1020 isprovided with a receiving unit 1021 and a display unit 1030. Thewireless communication terminal device 1020 is a communication terminalsuch as a mobile phone, a smart phone, or the like owned by a user. Thedisplay unit 1030 includes a plurality of display regions including afirst display region 1030-1 and a second display region 1030-2 in thesame manner as in FIG. 9.

The map information 1006 stored in the map information storage unit 1010includes position information, address information, building nameinformation, shop name information, for example. Among them, thebuilding name information includes names recorded on a general map suchas names of rail stations, bus stops of route buses, historic sites,scenic locations, parks, rivers and streams, harbors, and the like, forexample (as described above). The position information described hereincorresponds to the current position of a location for which map displayis requested (a user as an information providing target (or a wirelesscommunication device owned by the user), for example).

The communication parameter obtaining unit 1011 obtains communicationparameters associated with the position information. The communicationparameters described herein is information relating to levels ofcongestion of a plurality of public wireless base stations andcommunication rate calculated based on the levels of congestion (asdescribed above). The communication parameters may be a communicationparameter obtained by equalizing the communication parameters collectedfrom a plurality of wireless communication devices in units ofinformation relating to time and information relating the positions.However, the communication parameters are not limited to fixed valuesbut may include parameters which dynamically vary in association withthe time information.

The position information associating unit 1012 associates the mapinformation 1006 stored in the map information storage unit 1010 and thecommunication parameters obtained by the communication parameterobtaining unit 1011 with the position information (as described above).In addition, the image information creating unit 1013 creates the imageinformation in which the communication parameters associated with theposition information are described on the map information.

The information size control unit 1018 controls the size of theinformation to be transmitted to the wireless communication terminaldevice 1020 based on the information relating to positions, which iscreated by the position information associating unit 1012 and theinformation of the communication parameter.

For example, when additional information such as an advertisement or thelike is transmitted to the wireless communication terminal device 1020at a certain spot, the information providing apparatus 1000 reads acommunication parameter associated with the position at which thewireless communication terminal device 1020 is present. When thecommunication parameter indicates the congestion of traffic at theposition where the wireless communication terminal device 1020 ispresent, that is, the low communication rate, the information sizecontrol unit 1018 outputs a signal for reducing the information size tothe information creating unit 1019. Then, the information creating unit1019 creates additional information such as an advertisement or the likewith a small size based on the signal from the information size controlunit 1018. On the other hand, the communication parameter indicatesno-traffic congestion at the position where the wireless communicationterminal device 1020 is present, that is, the high communication rate,the information size control unit 1018 outputs a signal for increasingthe information size. Then, the information creating unit 1019 createsadditional information such as an advertisement or the like with a largesize based on the signal form the information size control unit 1018. Inaddition, the information size control unit 1018 may control the size ofthe image information created by the image information creating unit1013.

The additional information created by the information creating unit 1019is transmitted to the wireless communication terminal device 1020 viathe communication unit 1015. On the side of the wireless communicationterminal device 1020, the map information in which the communicationparameters are described is displayed on the first display region 1030-1while the additional information is displayed on the second displayregion 1030-2 among the display regions of the display unit 1030.

Here, the additional information created by the information creatingunit 1019 includes not only an advertisement but also generalinformation such as weather forecasting, news, music content, imagecontent, video content, and the like. In addition, the control of theinformation size may include change of compression ratios or change ofcompression schemes.

As described above, since the information providing apparatus 1000 canadjust the size of the additional information in accordance with thetraffic conditions at the spot where the wireless communication terminaldevice 1020 is present when the additional information such as anadvertisement or the like is delivered as well as the informationrelating to the traffic, it is possible to deliver the additionalinformation while minimizing the load on the traffic.

It should be understood by those skilled in the art that variousmodifications, combinations, sub-combinations and alterations may occurdepending on design requirements and other factors insofar as they arewithin the scope of the appended claims or the equivalents thereof.

What is claimed is:
 1. A communication terminal device, including: acommunication parameter detection unit configured to detect a pluralityof communication parameters of at least one base station, wherein thedetected plurality of communication parameters are associated with atleast one of information associated with a position of the communicationterminal device or information associated with time of detection; adisplay unit configured to display numerical values of the plurality ofcommunication parameters, wherein the numerical values indicate levelsof congestion or communication rate of the at least one base station,wherein the numerical values of the plurality of communicationparameters are displayed in a graph form or in a digital format or withicons; and a transmitting unit configured to transmit the detectedplurality of communication parameters.
 2. The communication terminaldevice according to claim 1, further including a communication businessoperator selecting unit configured to select a preferred communicationbusiness operator among a plurality of communication business operatorsor a preferred wireless scheme among a plurality of wireless schemes. 3.The communication terminal device according to claim 2, wherein thecommunication business operator selecting unit is further configured toselect the preferred communication business operator among the pluralityof communication business operators or the preferred wireless schemeamong the plurality of wireless schemes based on a character or a firsticon, wherein the character or the first icon indicates the preferredcommunication business operator or the preferred wireless scheme.
 4. Thecommunication terminal device according to claim 2, further including awireless scheme setting unit configured to receive output from thecommunication business operator selecting unit.
 5. The communicationterminal device according to claim 4, further comprising a wirelesscommunication unit configured to execute a telephone call or packetcommunication with an apparatus other than the communication terminaldevice via a carrier frequency, wherein the wireless scheme setting unitis further configured to set the wireless communication unit to awireless scheme based on a graphic corresponding to the preferredcommunication business operator of the plurality of communicationbusiness operators.
 6. The communication terminal device according toclaim 5, wherein a visual effect, different from that for a plurality ofgraphics corresponding to communication business operators other thanthe preferred communication business operator of the plurality ofcommunication business operators or a plurality of graphicscorresponding to wireless schemes other than the preferred wirelessscheme of the plurality of wireless schemes, is applied on the graphiccorresponding to the preferred communication business operator.
 7. Thecommunication terminal device according to claim 6, wherein the visualeffect is realized by one of a change in a color of a character, a blinkof the character, a change of a background color of the character or ablink of the background color of the character.
 8. The communicationterminal device according to claim 1, wherein the display unit isfurther configured to include a plurality of display regions, whereinthe plurality of display regions include a first display region and asecond display region.
 9. The communication terminal device according toclaim 8, wherein image information of the plurality of communicationparameters is displayed on the first display region, and whereinadditional information is displayed on the second display region of theplurality of display regions of the display unit.
 10. The communicationterminal device according to claim 1, wherein the transmitting unit isfurther configured to transmit the information associated with theposition of the communication terminal device, the informationassociated with the time of detection, and the detected plurality ofcommunication parameters to an information providing apparatus.
 11. Aninformation providing method, comprising: in a communication terminaldevice: detecting a plurality of communication parameters of at leastone base station, wherein the detected plurality of communicationparameters are associated with at least one of information associatedwith a position of the communication terminal device or informationassociated with time of detection; displaying numerical values of theplurality of communication parameters, wherein the numerical valuesindicate levels of congestion or communication rate of the at least onebase station, wherein the numerical values of the plurality ofcommunication parameters are displayed in a graph form or in a digitalformat or with icons; and transmitting the communication parameters to adevice other than the communication terminal device.
 12. The informationproviding method according to claim 11, further comprising selecting apreferred communication business operator among a plurality ofcommunication business operators or a preferred wireless scheme among aplurality of wireless schemes based on the detected plurality ofcommunication parameters.
 13. The information providing method accordingto claim 12, wherein the preferred communication business operator amongthe plurality of communication business operators or the preferredwireless scheme among the plurality of wireless schemes is selectedbased on a character or a first icon, wherein the character or the firsticon indicates the preferred communication business operator or thepreferred wireless scheme.
 14. The information providing methodaccording to claim 12, further comprising setting a wirelesscommunication unit to a wireless scheme based on a graphic correspondingto the preferred communication business operator of the plurality ofcommunication business operators, wherein the wireless communicationunit is configured to execute a telephone call or packet communicationwith an apparatus other than the communication terminal device via acarrier frequency.
 15. The information providing method according toclaim 14, further comprising applying a visual effect different fromthat for a plurality of graphics corresponding to communication businessoperators other than the preferred communication business operator ofthe plurality of communication business operators or a plurality ofgraphics corresponding to wireless schemes other than the preferredwireless scheme of the plurality of wireless schemes on the graphiccorresponding to the preferred communication business operator.
 16. Theinformation providing method according to claim 15, wherein the visualeffect is realized by one of changing a color of a character, causingthe character to blink, changing a background color of the character, orcausing the background color of the character to blink.
 17. Theinformation providing method according to claim 11, further comprising:displaying image information of the plurality of communicationparameters on a first display region of a plurality of display regionsof a display unit; and displaying additional information on a seconddisplay region of the plurality of display regions of the display unit.18. The information providing method according to claim 11, furthercomprising transmitting the information associated with the position ofthe communication terminal device and the information associated withthe time of detection, and the detected plurality of communicationparameters to an information providing apparatus.
 19. A communicationdevice, including: circuitry configured to: detect a plurality ofcommunication parameters of at least one base station, wherein thedetected plurality of communication parameters are associated with atleast one of information associated with a position of the communicationdevice or information associated with time of detection; control todisplay numerical values of the plurality of communication parameters,wherein the numerical values indicate levels of congestion orcommunication rate of the at least one base station, wherein thenumerical values of the plurality of communication parameters aredisplayed in a graph form or in a digital format or with icons; andtransmit the detected plurality of communication parameters.